Competing allegiance in an unclear role: Peer and non-peer understanding of peer support in Massachusetts, United States

Abstract

Lack of role clarity is a central challenge to the growth and retention of the peer workforce as peer support specialists (PSS) increasingly work alongside non-peer providers in traditional mental healthcare settings. This study examined role clarity among peer and non-peer workers and identifies areas of consensus and disagreement in understanding the peer role. Qualitative interviews were conducted with PSS (N = 18), non-peer direct care staff (N = 15), and non-peer clinical staff (N = 6) employed at two behavioral health organizations in the Northeast. Thematic analysis was conducted. Most non-peer staff have generally positive attitudes towards the inclusion of PSS in behavioral healthcare organizations, and task overlap was not indicated as problematic. Non-peer staff report and demonstrate a wide range of understanding but little clarity about the peer role, and peer staff themselves describe diverging descriptions of their own role. A consensus emerged regarding peer roles related to individual and group support, facilitating community integration, and relationship building. Key areas of disagreement include peer inclusion on clinical teams and role in service engagement. Competing peer and organizational ethos were identified as a central challenge of workplace integration. In sum, while peer tasks, roles, and responsibilities are perceived as valuable and non-overlapping with non-peer tasks, they remain ill-defined. Existing role tension is not based on task overlap but rather emerges from competing peer and organizational ethos and allegiances. Education and cultural humility among non-peer staff are critical to reducing interprofessional tension. Simultaneously, peer teams must develop cohesive peer ethos and role identity to ensure internal role clarity.